INDIANAPOLIS -- Mike Gesicki had just finished ratting off Penn State's accomplishments during the past two seasons when a reporter asked about never reaching the College Football Playoff.

Does he feel like he left behind unfinished business?

"Thanks for reminding me," Gesicki said at the NFL Combine on Friday. "Now I got all motivated, I'm going to go kill this bench press. That wasn't fun, obviously. Sitting there at lunch today with (former Ohio State quarterback) J.T. Barrett and he was smiling about that one."

He went on to say it was part of the process, that the Lions played "extremely well" in 13 games and won 11. Unfortunately, he said, that wasn't enough. But as for that unfinished business? He said that's in the hands of the current Penn State players.

Both Gesicki and former teammate DaeSean Hamilton took time to reflect on their Penn State careers during their media sessions.

"We just really put our all in any time we stepped into that building and anytime we stepped on that practice field and that ... just paid off," Hamilton said, "and it came to show on Saturday when we went out there and were able to win a long string of games."

Penn State sending eight players to the combine is proof of their hard work, Hamitlon said.

"Really just all of us sticking together and buying into Coach (James) Franklin, his ideas that he had for us, his goals and his long-term plans that he had in mind for our team," he said.

"It took us a little while to obviously get things rolling. The first two years, kind of struggle. But the last two seasons and finally being able to play like the team we really are is kind of what showed off and got us to where we are now."

Gesicki said Franklin brought his own culture to the Lions while also keeping Penn State's tradition in tact.

"We all bought into it," Gesicki said. "We all trusted in Coach Franklin and trusted his process. He's a great coach and he's a big reason Penn State is where it's at today, back-to-back 11 win seasons, back-to-back top-10 finishes, back-to-back New Year's Six bowls, Big 10 championships, big-time wins.

"I think our stadium averaged 108,000 a game when they say it only holds 107,000. ... It's been an incredible time at Penn State."